GB2612417A

GB2612417A - Dowel system

Info

Publication number: GB2612417A
Application number: GB2212305.3A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Stephen Mason Greg
Original assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc
Current assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc
Priority date: 2021-08-25
Filing date: 2022-08-24
Publication date: 2023-05-03
Anticipated expiration: 2042-08-24
Also published as: GB202212305D0; AU2021221651A1; GB2612417B; US20230066619A1

Abstract

The system comprises an apparatus for supporting level of a concrete element relative to an adjacent concrete element, the apparatus including a dowel 10 for transferring load from the concrete element to the adjacent concrete element and a dowel support 12 for supporting the dowel relative to a casting bed prior to pouring of the concrete, wherein the dowel support is formed of corrosion free material. The dowel support may be formed of plastic. The dowel support may comprise at least one resilient clip (20, figure 4) for resiliently receiving the dowel support Also disclosed is an apparatus comprising first 12a and second 12b dowel supports which are formed as like parts and an apparatus wherein the dowel support comprises a foot 22 and a plurality of cradles (34, figure 9) for supporting the dowel with each cradle being positioned at a different height relative to the foot.

Description

DOWEL SYSTEM

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a dowel system for supporting a concrete panel in alignment with an adjacent concrete panel and, more specifically, but not exclusively, to a 5 dowel system for use in residential pavements.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

It has been previously proposed to provide a dowel system for supporting a concrete element in line with an adjacent concrete element In particular, it has been proposed to provide a dowel system for maintaining vertical alignment of adjacent panels in a concrete residential pavement for pedestrians. The dowel system may be provided to prevent one concrete element rising relative to an adjacent concrete element which may result in a tripping hazard for pedestrians.

However, the applicant has identified that there are disadvantages with existing dowel systems Examples of the present invention seek to obviate or at least ameliorate one or more disadvantages of existing dowel systems. Examples of the present invention seek to provide an improved dowel system for supporting a concrete element relative to an adjacent concrete element.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, there is provided an apparatus for supporting level of a concrete element relative to an adjacent concrete element, the apparatus including a dowel for transferring load from the concrete element to the adjacent concrete element and a dowel support for supporting the dowel relative to a casting bed prior to pouring of the concrete, wherein the dowel support is formed of corrosion free material.

Preferably, the dowel support is formed of plastic material. More preferably, the dowel support is formed by plastic injection moulding. -2 -

In a preferred form, the dowel support includes at least one resilient clip for resiliently receiving the dowel for supporting the dowel relative to the casting bed. More preferably, the dowel support includes a foot arranged to extend along a surface of the casting bed and an arm extending upwardly from the foot to support the clip. Even more preferably, the dowel support includes a series of spaced arms at spaced intervals along a longitudinal axis of the foot.

Preferably, the apparatus includes a pair of like dowel supports and a plurality of dowels, each of the dowels extending between the pair of dowel supports. More preferably, each of the dowels is supported in an orientation substantially parallel to the casting bed In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an assembly for supporting level of a concrete element relative to an adjacent concrete element, the assembly including a dowel for transferring load from the concrete element to the adjacent concrete element, a first dowel support for supporting the dowel relative to a casting bed prior to pouring of the concrete, and a second dowel support for supporting the dowel relative to the casting bed prior to pouring of the concrete, wherein the first dowel support and the second dowel support are formed as like parts.

Preferably, the first dowel support supports a first end portion of the dowel and the second dowel supports at ports a second end portion of the dowel. More preferably, the first dowel support includes a resilient support portion for receiving the first end portion of the dowel and the second dowel support includes a resilient support portion for receiving the second end portion of the dowel.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an apparatus for supporting level of a concrete element relative to an adjacent concrete element, the apparatus including a dowel for transferring load from the concrete element to the adjacent concrete element and a dowel support for supporting the dowel relative to a casting bed prior to pouring of the concrete, wherein the dowel support includes a foot and a plurality of cradles for supporting the dowel, each of the cradles being positioned at a different height relative to the foot for interchangeably supporting the dowel at a different height relative to the casting bed.

Preferably, the dowel support includes the plurality of cradles at different heights corresponding to predetermined dowel heights for different pavement slab sizes. More preferably, the dowel support includes three cradles at heights of 100 mm, 125 mm and 155 mm relative to the casting bed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A preferred example of the invention will be described, by way of a non-limiting example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows a pair of dowels supported by a pair of dowel cradles, in accordance with an example of the present invention; Figure 2 shows for dowels supported by a pair of dowel cradles in accordance with an example of the present invention; Figure 3 shows a diagrammatic view of a dowel supported by a pair of dowel cradles across a joint of concrete elements, Figure 4 shows detail of an arm of a dowel cradle; Figure 5 shows a pair of dowels and a pair of dowel cradles, prior to assembly, Figure 6 shows detail of a dowel end supported by a dowel cradle, Figure 7 shows a linkage of two dowel cradles to form a longer dowel cradle length; Figure 8 shows detail of a dowel supported at each end by a separate dowel cradle, Figure 9 shows a range of mounting heights for a dowel when supported by the 20 dowel cradle, and Figure 10 shows perspective views of variations in density of dowel locations along lengths of dowel cradles.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

With reference to Figures 1 to 10 of the drawings, there is shown an example of the 25 present invention including a dowel 10 and a pair of dowel cradles 12 The applicant has -4 -identified that there are disadvantages with existing dowel systems in that the dowel systems may be prone to corrosion, inconvenient/expensive to transport and/or difficult to adjust. Advantageously, the applicant has developed an improved dowel system which addresses one or more of these disadvantages of existing dowel systems.

Accordingly, in the example of the present invention depicted in Figures 1 to 10, there is provided an apparatus 14 for supporting level of a concrete element 16 (see Figure 3) relative to an adjacent concrete element 18. The apparatus 14 includes a dowel 10 for transferring load from the concrete element 16 to the adjacent concrete element 18 and a dowel support 12 for supporting the dowel 10 relative to a casting bed prior to pouring of the concrete. The dowel support 12 is formed of corrosion-free material. As shown in Figure 3, the apparatus 14 may be used in conjunction with a crack inducer 36, used for inducing a crack at a desired location to define the concrete elements 16, 18.

In the example shown, the dowel support 12 is formed of plastic material such that the dowel support 12 will not corrode The dowel support 12 may be formed by plastic 15 injection moulding.

The dowel support 12 includes at least one resilient clip 20 (see Figure 4) for resiliently receiving the dowel 10 for supporting the dowel 10 relative to the casting bed. The dowel support 12 may include a foot 22 arranged to extend along a surface of the casting bed and an arm 24 extending upwardly from the foot 22 to support the clip 20. As shown in Figure 5, the dowel support 12 may include a series of spaced arms 24 at spaced intervals along a longitudinal axis of the foot 22.

As shown most clearly in Figure 1, Figure 2 and Figure 10, the apparatus 14 may include a pair of like dowel supports 12 and a plurality of dowels 10, each of the dowels 10 extending between the pair of dowel supports 12. Each of the dowels 10 may be supported in an orientation substantially parallel to the casting bed. This orientation is clearly shown in the end view of Figure 3 where the dowel 10 is supported in a horizontal orientation parallel to the horizontal casting bed on which the concrete elements 16, 18 have been cast.

Another aspect provides an assembly 26 including a dowel 10 when assembled together with a pair of dowel supports 12 More specifically, as shown in Figure 1, Figure 2 -5 -and Figure 10, there is provided an assembly 26 for supporting level of a concrete element 16 relative to an adjacent concrete element 18. The assembly 26 includes a dowel 10 for transferring load from the concrete element 16 to the adjacent concrete element 18, a first dowel support 12a and a second dowel support 12b. The first dowel support 12a is arranged 5 for supporting one end portion of the dowel 10 relative to the casting bed prior to pouring of the concrete, and the second dowel support 12b is arranged for supporting an opposite end portion of the dowel 10 relative to the casting bed prior to pouring of the concrete. The first dowel support 12a and the second dowel support 12b are formed as like parts. In particular, the first dowel support 12a and the second dowel support 12b may be formed as identical 10 castings is from a common mould through a process of plastic injection moulding.

The first dowel support 12a supports a first end portion 28 of the dowel 10 and the second dowel support 12b supports a second end portion 30 of the dowel 10. The first dowel support 12a includes a resilient support portion 32 for receiving the first end portion 28 of the dowel 10 and the second dowel support 12b includes a resilient support portion 32 for receiving the second end portion 30 of the dowel 10.

In another aspect, there is provided an apparatus 14 which facilitates adjustability of a height of the dowel 10 above the casting surface. More specifically, there is provided an apparatus 14 for supporting level of a concrete element 16 relative to an adjacent concrete element 18, the apparatus 14 including a dowel 10 for transferring load from the concrete element 16 to the adjacent concrete element 18. The apparatus 14 also includes a dowel support 12 for supporting the dowel 10 relative to a casting bed prior to pouring of the concrete. The dowel support 12 includes a foot 22 and a plurality of cradles 34 (see Figure 9) for supporting the dowel 10. Each of the cradles 34 is positioned at a different height relative to the foot 22 for interchangeably supporting the dowel 10 at a different height relative to the casting bed.

Advantageously, the dowel support 12 includes the plurality of cradles 34 at different heights corresponding to predetermined dowel heights for different pavement slab sizes. For example, in the example depicted in Figure 9, the dowel support 12 includes three cradles -a first cradle 34a at a height of 100 mm, a second cradle 34b at a height of 125 mm and third cradle 34c at a height of 155 mm relative to the casting bed. -6 -

As shown in Figure 7, the dowel support 12 may be provided at either end with a coupling 38 so that one dowel support 12 is able to be interlinked with another like dowel support 12 so as to form a longer length of dowel supports, for example where a plurality of dowel supports 12 are required to span a width of a pavement being laid.

Corrosion Free Dowel Cradle Advantageously, examples of the present invention may be useful in providing a corrosion-free dowel and support cage construction Further advantageous features may include the following: - Accurate and consistent dowel centres over a long run (up to 4m).

-Freestanding chaired construction to suit 100mm, 125mm and 150mm slab heights. Dowels positioned at half the slab height.

- Causes no restraint but allows for contraction from concrete shrinkage at a pour through joint - Open profile with larger apertures to avoid crack induction and to allow good flow of aggregate up to 20mm.

Modular Flat Pack Construction (Clip Together Onsite) By virtue of the easy assembly facilitated by the straightforward coupling of the dowel 10 to the dowel supports 12, examples of the present invention may provide the following advantageous features: -Flat-pack components which can be assembled onsite by installer.

- Clip together assembly functionality without fasteners or welding - Securely holds dowels in place and level during concrete pour.

- Modular length which can be joined in a chain to create larger runs of dowels.

- Simple to cut to in-fill lengths if required.

Multiple Configuration Dowel Placement By virtue of the easy variability in height of the dowel 10 courtesy of the cradles 34 being at a range of heights, examples of the present invention may provide the following advantageous features: - Standardised multiple slab height chair for all three required pavement slab sizes (100mm, 125mm and 150mm).

- Possibility of having multifunctional dowel centre placement options (for example 150, 300, 450 or 600).

- Possibility of having different dowel sizes for different slab heights.

- Possibility to suit different dowel lengths While various embodiments of the present invention have been described above, it should be understood that they have been presented by way of example only, and not by way of limitation. It will be apparent to a person skilled in the relevant art that various changes in form and detail can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Thus, the present invention should not be limited by any of the above described exemplary embodiments.

The reference in this specification to any prior publication (or information derived from it), or to any matter which is known, is not, and should not be taken as an acknowledgment or admission or any form of suggestion that that prior publication (or information derived from it) or known matter forms part of the common general knowledge in the field of endeavour to which this specification relates.

List of numbered features Dowel 10 Dowel support/cradle 12 First dowel support 12a Second dowel support 12b Apparatus 14 Concrete element 16 Adjacent concrete element 18 Resilient clip 20 Foot 22 Arm 24 Assembly 26 First end portion 28 Second end portion 30 Resilient support portion 32 Cradle 34 First cradle 34a Second cradle 34b Third cradle 34c Crack inducer 36 -9 -

Claims

THE CLAIMS DEFINING THE INVENTION ARE AS FOLLOWS: An apparatus for supporting level of a concrete element relative to an adjacent concrete element, the apparatus including a dowel for transferring load from the concrete element to the adjacent concrete element and a dowel support for supporting the dowel relative to a casting bed prior to pouring of the concrete, wherein the dowel support is formed of corrosion free material.
An apparatus as claimed in claim I, wherein the dowel support is formed of plastic material.
3. An apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein the dowel support is formed by plastic injection moulding.
An apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the dowel support includes at least one resilient clip for resiliently receiving the dowel for supporting the dowel relative to the casting bed.
An apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein the dowel support includes if foot arranged to extend along a surface of the casting bed and an arm extending upwardly from the foot to support the clip.
An apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein the dowel support includes a series of spaced arms at spaced intervals along a longitudinal axis of the foot.
An apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the apparatus includes a pair of like dowel supports and a plurality of dowels, each of the dowels extending between the pair of dowel supports.
An apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein each of the dowels is supported in an orientation substantially parallel to the casting bed.
An assembly for supporting level of a concrete element relative to an adjacent concrete element, the assembly including a dowel for transferring load from the concrete element to the adjacent concrete element, a first dowel support for -10 -supporting the dowel relative to a casting bed prior to pouring of the concrete, and a second dowel support for supporting the dowel relative to the casting bed prior to pouring of the concrete, wherein the first dowel support and the second dowel support are formed as like parts.
An assembly as claimed in claim 9, wherein the first dowel support supports a first end portion of the dowel and the second dowel support supports a second end portion of the dowel.
11. An assembly as claimed in claim 10, wherein the first dowel support includes a resilient support portion for receiving the first end portion of the dowel and the second dowel support includes a resilient support portion for receiving the second end portion of the dowel.
12. An apparatus for supporting level of a concrete element relative to an adjacent concrete element, the apparatus including a dowel for transferring load from the concrete element to the adjacent concrete element and a dowel support for supporting the dowel relative to a casting bed prior to pouring of the concrete, wherein the dowel support includes a foot and a plurality of cradles for supporting the dowel, each of the cradles being positioned at a different height relative to the foot for interchangeably supporting the dowel at a different height relative to the casting bed.
13. An apparatus as claimed in claim 12, wherein the dowel support includes the plurality of cradles at different heights corresponding to predetermined dowel heights for different pavement slab sizes.
14. An apparatus as claimed in claim 13, wherein the dowel support includes three cradles at heights of 100 mm, 125 mm and 155 mm relative to the casting bed.